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By Martin Graham | 21st Jan 2023
French and Italian media outlets are reporting that Milan Skriniar has agreed to join Paris Saint-Germain in the summer after his contract at Inter Milan runs out.
The Slovakian international is one of Europe’s most coveted defenders and Inter Milan have had to deal with enquiry after enquiry for his services year in, year out. However, both the club and player have stuck together to great effect and to the delight of the fans.
The Nerazzurri’s recent rise after decades in the quagmire of Italian top flight football has been thanks to the contributions of Skriniar and a few other players, as well as brilliant management by all who have managed them in the past five seasons.
Skriniar, whose contract with Inter is in its final six months, now believes his job at the Guiseppe Meazza Stadium is done and is seeking a new challenge elsewhere. Reports indicate that the 27-year-old has opted to move to France to play with PSG over the multitude of offers that he and his agents have had to mull over in recent years.
L’Equipe also reports that Inter could let him depart in January so that they can receive a transfer fee for him, instead of allowing his contract run down and letting him leave for free in the summer.
If this happens, this could see PSG pay €15 million for Skriniar, which will be a massive drop in their offer of €55 million from last summer which was rejected by Inter.
However, Sky Sports Italia have refuted these claims, stating that Inter will not let Skriniar leave in January, with some of their season goals still in view. The reports also indicate that the club still harbours an ambition to convince the former Sampdoria man to change his stance on leaving the club, which is why a January transfer is ruled out.
Should their plans to convince him to renew his contract fall through, the Slovakian will leave Inter as a Serie A champion and with two Supercoppa Italian titles, as well as a Coppa Italia title.
Reports coming out of England have also claimed that PSG hold an interest in Chelsea man Kai Havertz.
They are weighing up a move for him in January but have also penned him down for a possible summer move should their January approach fall through.
Kai Havertz’ future at Chelsea has been subject to speculation of late and this is not due to his lack of game time. He is, in fact, the Premier League club’s first choice for the centre forward role despite not being a natural centre forward.
However, he has failed to deliver on the big promise that saw Chelsea pay £71 million to Bayer Leverkusen in 2020. And with the influx of new attacking talent, it remains to be seen what happens with Havertz at Stamford Bridge.
Martin Graham is an MFF sports writer
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